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Archive for November, 2010

There is no need to be ashamed of your personal appearance, especially your teeth. If you are wary of smiling because of your old metallic fillings or suffer from the pain of cavities, cosmetic bonding is for you. Advances in technology mean that the days of unsightly metal fillings are at an end. In just a single session you can have a perfect smile thanks to cosmetic bonding techniques which allow cavities to be filled with tooth-coloured composite.

Whether you have an existing metal filling which you wish to have replaced or you need to have a cavity filled, incredible cosmetic bonding technology is now available in Leeds. Utilising dental composite, a mouldable substance made of acrylic resin and fillers, cosmetic bonding will solve your cavity problems and produce aesthetically pleasing results.

Your dentist will select the appropriate shade of bond to match your surrounding teeth and, having cleaned the area of tartar and debris, will apply an adherent gel. The bond is applied in one go or layered on gradually to achieve the optimum texture and shade before being subjected to a curing light. Buffing and polishing complete the procedure and allows a smooth finish. The result is an almost invisible filling, the durability of which represents a great advance in dentistry.

It’s that simple to have your cavity problems solved and you will never have to worry about the look of metal fillings or your painful cavities again. The lengthy processes of metal filling are now a thing of the past so contact your Leeds dentist today about cosmetic bonding procedures and be astonished with the results.

Chewing gums benefits can be substantial to our oral health. Whether it is to freshen breath or contribute to increased production of saliva, many of us chew gum. Saliva is a vital force in protecting our teeth from the damaging effects of plaque and chewing gum is one of the simplest ways to achieve that.

Having a dry mouth can be very uncomfortable indeed and the pleasurable process of chewing gum helps to alleviate that. As a happy side effect your breath is freshened in the process. Feeling confident that your breath smells pleasant is very important for social occasions of all kinds, allowing you to talk and smile with confident without being worried that you ought to shield your mouth.

The saliva that is produced by the act of chewing neutralises acids which are introduced to the mouth via sugary and starchy foods. By combating these acids you are helping to guard against plaque, safeguard your teeth’s protective enamel and avoid painful cavities and tooth decay.

Chewing also helps clear the mouth of debris. If you find yourself in a situation where brushing is not possible – perhaps a business function involving lunch – chewing gum is the next best thing until you are able to use your toothbrush. The process of chewing will help to shift some of your food debris away from teeth and neutralise acids in the process.

The likelihood of stains is also reduced allowing your teeth to retain some of their whiteness. There are many different chewing gums available on the market and your Leeds dentist will be able to advise you on the best so that you maintain healthy saliva production and fresh breath.

Imagine being able to have your false tooth fitted in a single visit to your dentist. In the past this process could take a fortnight or more, but CEREC technology has changed all that, allowing dentists to design, construct and fit new crowns, veneers, onlays and underlays in just one session. Achieve lasting results with this efficient procedure available in the City of Leeds.

Instead of using dental putty, CEREC utilises state-of-the-art digital imaging to take an impression of your tooth. The 3D data is sent to an online milling machine which constructs your tooth from high quality ceramics in as little as six minutes. Your dentist is then able to make it match your surrounding teeth by using staining and glazing techniques, before cementing it into place.

This whole procedure can take place within the hour and requires only a single set of local anaesthetic injections. What’s more, CEREC heralds the end of temporary veneers which were prone to fall out, adding to the inconvenience of having to wait two or three weeks for your permanent new teeth.

In spite of using such cutting edge technology, the cost of CEREC treatment is remarkably similar to traditional methods. The lack of lab fees reduced the price, as does the fact that you require only one visit to your dentist. As such, CEREC crowns range from only £380 to £700 dependent on the treatment required. With dentists now offering interest-free repayment plans, CEREC has never been so affordable.

Don’t spend weeks waiting for your new teeth, spend just one session at your dentist who will tailor-make your durable replacement using the latest technology at affordable prices.

Maintaining your home oral hygiene routine is vital in maintaining healthy teeth and gums. Six month check ups with your dentist are very important, as is pursuing a balanced diet, but in the mean time it is crucial that you take good care of your teeth at home by brushing and flossing.

With plaque forming on teeth four to twelve hours after they were last brushed, it is essential that teeth are brushed at least twice a day to prevent a build-up. If you can, try to brush after every meal or snack too using a fluoride toothpaste which helps to strengthen tooth enamel. Be sure to brush gently using a soft-bristled brush. The use of hard brushes and an overly vigorous technique can inflict damage on gums. Brushing should take two to three minutes during which time it is very important that you have reached all the teeth in your mouth.

Having brushed, employing dental floss is the next stage and it is just as crucial. Floss is a thin nylon or Teflon thread used to clean in between the teeth. Debris and plaque are removed by placing the floss between two teeth and moving it up and down. No matter how good your tooth brushing routine is, flossing is still required to reach those points between teeth that brushes cannot get to.

If you have not used dental floss before you might experience soreness or even a little bleeding the first few times you do, but don’t be put off as flossing plays a hugely important role in removing the plaque which helps acid to attack and erode teeth. Contact your Central Leeds dentist to ask for more advice about brushing and flossing.

Crooked, misaligned teeth have many causes, from trauma to childhood thumb-sucking. They can dash one’s confidence and lead to a lifetime of poor oral hygiene. Central Leeds dentists are now offering a chance to put an end to this forever with the fitting of braces. Why delay achieving your perfect smile? Braces work with your teeth to ensure lasting, optimum alignment and bite that will mean you can show off your teeth with confidence.

Getting braces fitted is easy at any age. Although childhood is the best time, adults with alignment issues need not despair with braces able to achieve stunning results if your palate or jaws need widening or you require more space between your teeth or jaws. Braces can even shape the teeth themselves and treatment may last for only six weeks or up to three years.

Having had x-rays, moulds and impressions of your teeth taken, an etchant then a bracket is applied to the teeth. To adjust the positioning of the teeth or jaw, a wire is threaded through the brackets. Regular appointments are undertaken to tighten the wire in order for the teeth or jaw to be moved in the appropriate direction. After the treatment is completed, a retainer is worn to guard against a relapse while your teeth and jaw are stabilising. Your dentist will advise you on how to clean your teeth while wearing a brace.

Braces come in an array of styles to suit your personal preference, such as gold-plated, a variety of invisible braces or friction-free for faster treatment times. Correcting crooked teeth or a misaligned bite will aid in oral hygiene and give you the stunning smile you’ve always deserved. Available today in Central Leeds, don’t hesitate to enquire about this valuable treatment.

Maintaining healthy gums is just as vital for oral hygiene as looking after your teeth. With experts suggesting that as many as seventy five per cent of Britons over thirty five years of age have some form of gum disease it has never been more important to take your gum’s health seriously. Bleeding gums are a sign that gum disease is taking hold and you should contact your Central Leeds dentist immediately if you notice it occurring.

Bleeding gums can indicate gingivitis, the most common of gum diseases. Bleeding may happen while you are brushing your teeth and eating and drinking will be more difficult and uncomfortable. If you follow recommended dental hygiene routines of brushing and flossing your teeth a day, the risk that your gums will bleed is substantially reduced.

If gingivitis is left to progress and the bleeding gums are ignored, other debilitating conditions may end up taking hold. Periodontitis is especially painful and can result in your teeth falling out as the bones holding them in place become inflamed. All of this may begin with bleeding gums

Contact your Central Leeds dentist quickly if you experience bleeding gums as it may be a sign of worse things to come. Thankfully it is easily remedied if caught in time. Your dentist may me able to advise you on improving your home oral hygiene routine so that the bleeding ceases. In some cases special mouthwash may be appropriate or a course of antibiotics. The important thing is the take action immediately.

Under normal circumstances the roots and ligaments which hold your primary or baby teeth in place will dissolve and allow your adult teeth to come through and replace them. Sometimes they don’t dissolve properly and end up fused with your jaw bone. This condition is called ankylosis and should be treated as soon as it is diagnosed.

Ankylosis can occur when a healthy ligament is no longer present for some reason. The tooth will then fuse to the jaw bone. This can take place if you have an infection or inflammation around the tooth. Sometimes ankylosis results from an accident that affects the mouth and there is also evidence to suggest the condition can be congenital. It is also more likely if you have problems with metabolism or suffer from abnormal bone growth.

Studies have given various indications as to how many children have the condition. Some say as little as three per cent of British youths, others as many as thirty eight per cent. This variation might be due to different methods of diagnosis. These include simply observing that a tooth is submerged in the gum due to the problem with the root area. Xrays too can show ankylosis is present because teeth are not growing properly. Tapping the teeth can reveal a distinct difference in the sound produced between healthy teeth and any that might have ankylosis.

An ankylosed tooth may need removing although in the case of children your dentist will monitor the situation first. City of Leeds dentists have all the information about ankylosis and ought to be consulted if you think that you or your child has developed the condition in one or more of their teeth.

It is the job of an oral pathologist to diagnose disease in the mouth and recommend immediate treatment, writes a dentist in Leeds. The mouth is an important gateway to the body. Hence, maintaining its health and being able to recognise the causes of oral diseases are paramount. Bad oral hygiene, diet, poor immune systems, stress, smoking and heavy drinking can put extreme stresses on the mouth. It can start with plaque and tartar, leading to tooth decay, gum infections, periodontal and salivary disease- abscesses and lesions can develop, as well as oral cancer. If there are any signs of problems, it is the pathologist’s role is carry out extensive examinations using x-rays, radiographs, dental imaging, biopsies and biochemical examinations of the oral and maxillofacial regions in order to come to a precise diagnosis of the disease and then design a course of treatment. This often involves surgery and the pathologist will work closely with other specialists such as orthodontists, endodontists and periodontists to ensure that the best procedures lead to the best results for the patient.